Britain's King Charles Praises Omani Peace Efforts During Sultan Haitham's Official Visit
Britain's King Charles III on Tuesday praised the Sultanate of Oman's efforts to establish peace in the Middle East, as Sultan Haitham bin Tarik began a state visit to the United Kingdom, the first of its kind in over four decades.
During a banquet held in the Sultan's honor at Windsor Castle, King Charles noted the deep-rooted diplomatic, military, and royal relations between the two countries, praising the "noble efforts" by Muscat to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
He told about 160 guests: "I would like to particularly commend, at a time when conflict has tragically returned to the region, Oman's steadfast commitment as a trusted interlocutor for all parties."
He added: "Oman's role in the Gulf region and its 'constructive neutrality,' as you describe it, transcends the scope of the Strait of Hormuz in its importance, and it is something that deserves all our appreciation and respect."
This state visit, the first by an Omani Sultan to Britain in 44 years, comes amid severe turmoil in the Middle East due to the conflict between the United States and Iran.
The Sultanate, which overlooks the Strait of Hormuz, is a key military ally of the United Kingdom and has acted as a mediator in talks between Washington and Tehran since the conflict escalated in late February.
The Omani Sultan held talks yesterday, Wednesday, with British Prime Minister Andy Burnham, where issues of security, trade, and investment topped the agenda.
Burnham said in a statement released by his office before the meeting: "Economic growth, security, defense, and education are just some of the priorities we share as we chart our course in an increasingly complex world."
The statement indicated that the two parties are about to sign an agreement to enhance mutual investment, based on the existing "Sovereign Investment Partnership" between the two countries, which will support increased investment in key sectors, including renewable energy, technology, critical minerals, space, healthcare, and financial services.
Several senior executives from companies like "Shell," "BP," and "Airbus" were present at the Tuesday banquet, along with members of the royal family and other prominent figures. In his speech, King Charles affirmed that Britain and Oman "are bound by relationships based on diplomacy, defense, trade, and trust."
Britain is a long-standing military ally of the Sultanate, with its forces training alongside Omani forces within the Sultanate for decades. The coastal city of Duqm also hosts a permanent British military presence.
Source: AFP
